Agenda item

Report RES13130

The Portfolio Holder introduced the progress update on the Education Portfolio Plan 2013/14, which had been agreed at the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 23^rd January 2013.  Each of the seven priorities had clearly defined aims and actions, as well as measures to ensure effective progress monitoring, and the majority of planned actions had now been successfully completed.  The Education Covenant and the Local Authority’s Education Commitments had been included as part of the Education Portfolio Plan 2013/14, to ensure that the Portfolio Priorities continued to reflect key Education aims and objectives of the Local Authority.

In considering the Portfolio Plan, the Chairman requested that the layout of the plan be reviewed and built around the Local Authority’s Education Commitments.  A Member requested that the job titles of Lead Officers on each action also be included.  The Portfolio Holder agreed to incorporate both of these suggestions in the Education Portfolio Plan 2014-15.

The Education Commitment to support the concept of a University Technical College for 14-19 year olds was progressing.  Councillor Julian Benington confirmed that Bromley College of Further and Higher Education was keen to broaden its education offer and was also working to build its Higher Education offer, delivered in partnership with Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church Universities.  Another Member noted the aim to support young people classified as ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ and highlighted the potential to link up with the Bromley Youth Employment Programme.  The Assistant Director: Education was pleased to confirm that the Bromley Education Business Partnership already worked with these young people to support them into education, employment and training through a number of routes.  The Chairman suggested that a joint meeting of the Education and Renewal and Recreation PDS Committees be convened as needed to consider the issues faced by young people classified as ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’, who were the responsibility of both committees.

A Member underlined that sufficient school and college places would need to be made available for young people as part of the ‘Raising the Participation Age Strategy’.  The Assistant Director: Education confirmed that every secondary school in the Borough had been visited during the 2012/13 academic year, and that schools and colleges had worked to develop a wide-ranging local offer for young people as they moved into post-16 provision.

A Member noted the potential for flexible school terms, particularly with Academy schools, and queried whether the impact of any change of school terms should be considered by the Education PDS Committee.  The Assistant Director: Education confirmed that Academy schools in Bromley were currently setting term dates in line with Local Authority Maintained schools, but that this might change in future and the Local Authority would monitor any arising issues.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments on the update of the Education Portfolio Plan 2013/14;

2)  Note the progress made in the Education Portfolio Plan 2013/14; and,

3)  Align the Education Portfolio Plan 2014-15 with the Education Commitments and include job titles of Lead Officers for each action.